Da Lat, Vietnam | Overseas Haven Report

Da Lat’s a high-elevation town located in southern Vietnam, about 300 kms northeast of Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) and 130 kms southwest of coastal Nha Trang. It is the capital of Lam Dong in Vietnam. Da Lat’s rolling topography is full of slopes and valleys and features an abundance of freshwater. The area is so seismically secure, it was chosen as the site of Vietnam’s first nuclear research reactor.

Though mainstream international tourism hasn’t discovered Da Lat yet, the word seems to have gotten out among expats. Many of them settling and doing business there, proving potential for entrepreneurial opportunities to those hoping to retreat and invest. Vietnam, in general, is eager to rise up from the various stages of hardship it’s passed through, and its people are hungry for opportunity and a better standard of living giving hope of more growth to come in the future. While better cooperation between farmers, businesses, and state is still needed, this is step in the right direction. The number of branches transacted daily has already improved, which might incentivize further opening doors to international trade.

Not only is Da Lat inexpensive, the dong is one of the weakest currencies in the world, and the average monthly salary here starts at about US$125 a month.

Once you get to Da Lat, you can get around on foot. The city is relatively small at just under 400 square kms. Walking around is pleasant here, as it’s not too hot, sidewalks are abundant, and the main thoroughfares are embellished with flowering plants. Taxis, motorbikes, and other forms of transportation are also available.

Coffee, strawberries, cabbage, and cauliflower are some of the town’s local produce. Da Lat even has its own wine industry. Vietnam may be famous for having some of the most delicious food on the planet, but Lam Dong is famous for having some of the most delicious food in Vietnam.

Da Lat has several public and private hospitals and clinics You’ll find everything from churches, cathedrals, and abbeys to Zen Buddhist pagodas and Cao Dai temples to name a few. You can also bask in natural beauty or visit lakes, waterfalls, and parks. Being popular as a romantic destination, you can partake in your choice of whimsical activities like renting out a swan-shaped paddleboat or visiting their concrete statues of woodland creatures, and heart-shaped everything meant for young couples to pose in front of. You can pursue a variety of outdoor interests here: hiking, biking, golf, gardening, and more.